2017 VW Golf SportWagen Alltrack Ready to Take on Subaru Outback
The all-new Golf SportWagen hits dealerships this month as a replacement for the Jetta SportWagen, but VW isn’t letting the Golf wagon stagnate long. An all-terrain-capable, all-wheel-drive Golf Sportwagen Alltrack was just unveiled at the 2015 New York International Auto Show, but it doesn’t go on sale until 2016.
Related: More 2015 New York Auto Show News
I hesitate to deem the Alltrack “off-road” because it appears only fit for light-duty use opposed to a rugged trail-blasting, off-road wagon. Think Subaru Outback, not Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, which should come as no surprise. Most consumers want all-wheel-drive capability for routine challenges, not off-roading.
The Alltrack adds durable-looking gray wheel arch moldings, flared side sills and redesigned bumpers to the SportWagen’s exterior, plus it has about an inch more ground clearance.
It’s a good look and adds a fair amount of character to the otherwise mellow VW wagon. Alltrack and 4Motion all-wheel-drive badging are prevalent inside and out. It’s found on the liftgate and forward of the gear selector, plus the Alltrack name appears on metal door-sill plating and front fender as well as embroidered on the seats.
The Alltrack is a natural competitor for the Outback and keeps more of its wagon roots than the Subaru that’s approaching crossover-SUV-like size and ride height. Subaru has taken great strides in interior quality with the latest-generation Outback that debuted as a 2015, but VW approaches near-luxury quality with the SportWagen’s interior.
VW’s standard SportWagen is so low-slung that the additional ground clearance doesn’t make the Alltrack any more difficult to step into. The front-wheel-drive SportWagen base models have 5.5 inches of ground clearance, and the Alltrack adds “nearly” an inch, according to VW; the Outback has 8.7 inches of ground clearance.
More comparisons with the Outback will be more appropriate once we have a price and feature content on the U.S.-spec Alltrack. A non-Alltrack Golf SportWagen starts at $22,215, including a destination fee, for front-wheel drive and a manual transmission; the larger Outback — it has more than 5 additional cubic feet of cargo room than the SportWagen — with standard all-wheel drive and an automatic transmission starts at $25,745, so the Alltrack has room to grow into and remain competitive with its closest rival.
More on the 2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Alltrack:
Volkswagen Debuts 2017 Golf SportWagen Alltrack
2017 Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Alltrack Photo Gallery (36 Photos)
